Ratha Yatra Festival in Leipzeg, Germany

Today is the Ratha Yatra festival in Leipzeg, Germany. There is no more merciful happening than Lord Jagannatha's Ratha Yatra festival. On this day Lord Krishna (Jagannatha) along with His brother (Baladeva) and sister (Subhadra) appear in the public so that anyone and everyone can get their darshan.

Srila Prabhupada told us in 1970 that anyone who gets Their darshan will not take birth again in this material world. So just see how powerful is Their darshan! Of course the attainment of this boon depends upon the quality of how one takes their darshan. But we know one thing for sure. Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra are unlimitedly powerful and merciful. And we try to conduct the Ratha Yatra Festival in such a way to try to inspire everyone who is fortunate enough to see Their Lordships to see them with love and thus qualify themselves to go back to home, back to Godhead at the end of their present incarnation in this material world.

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Regarding the Guru-Disciple Relationship...

When you take a guru and he has accepted you, does that mean it is for life? What happens if your guru dies before you? Does he remain your guru after death? Or does the devotee seek another guru ?

Please advise.

Kind regards,

Glen

Answer: Guru-Disciple Relationship is Eternal...

When you take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master by initiation you become his disciple for all of eternity. Even if he dies before you do, if you remain dedicated to following his instructions, the guru-disciple connection will remain tightly intact for all of eternity.

Just like my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, is now departed, but because I am faithfully executing his instructions I am tangibly experiencing how he is still very much with me, blessing me and guiding me along the pathway of Krishna consciousness. When I return to the spiritual world, I will see him again, hear him speak again, and receive personal instructions from him again. The guru-disciple relationship is never broken for the disciple who remains loyal to his guru. It is not that I am looking for another spiritual master in the physical absence of my guru. He is fully with me, guiding me at every step.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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